Electronic watches

Claim 1

A miniature electronic timepiece having an analog display provided by time-indicating hands, said timepiece comprising: A. circuit means requiring a direct energizing voltage at a predetermined level and including a high-frequency time base and a multi-stage frequency divider coupled thereto to provide low-frequency timing pulses; B. a stepping motor operatively coupled to said hands to drive same, said motor including a stator coil wound on a core and an auxiliary coil wound on said core, said auxiliary coil constituting the primary of a transformer whose secondary is said stator coil; C. a driver stage responsive to said timing pulses to produce drive pulses which are applied to said stator coil to actuate said motor; D. a d-c voltage source having a voltage output whose level differs from said predetermined level; and E. a voltage converter coupled to said source to produce an energizing voltage for said circuit means at said predetermined level, said converter incorporating said transformer and further including a pulse-actuated electronic voltage chopper interposed between said d-c source and said primary to supply a periodically-interrupted voltage thereto, thereby producing an alternating voltage at said secondary, a rectifier coupled to said secondary to yield said energizing voltage, and means to inhibit actuation of said chopper when said driver stage produces drive pulses to prevent interaction between the operation of said converter and said driver stage.